Art of cigar manufacture



3 Sheets-Sheet l W. T. FITZ GERALD Filed Oct. 26, 1926 ART OF CIGAR MANUFACTURE April 14, 1931.

attorney.

April 14, 1931. w. "r. FITZ GERALD ART OF CIGAR MANUFACTURE 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Oct. 26, 1926 April 14, 1931- w. T. FITZ GERALD 1,301,231

ART OF CIGAR MANUFACTURE Filed Oct. 26. 1926 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Swim L ter:

Fatanted 1.4:, 293i UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE WILLIAM T. FITZ GERALD, 0F COCONUT GROVE, FLORIDA, ASSIGNOR TO INTERNA- TIONAL CIGAR MACHINERY COMPANY, A. CORPORATION OF NEW JERSEY ART or cram MANUFACTURE Application filed October 26, 1926. Serial No. 144,341.

The present invention relates to the art of cigar manufacture, and is particularly an improvement over the disclosures in copending applications Serial No; 743,625, filed Oct. 14., 1924, and Serial No. 56,187 filed Sept. 14, 1925, now Patents Nos- 1,718,127 and 1,721,382, respectively.

It is the object of the invention to provide a novel and improved method of and apparatus for making cigars in a facile, practical and eflicient manner, especially for use in a semior wholly automatic machine.

The invention aims to eliminate as much of the manual labor as possible which is now required in making hand-made cigars, and to provide effective means to accomplish such results in a satisfactory manner.

With the foregoing and other objects in view, which will be apparent as the description proceeds, the invention resides in the method and apparatus as hereinafter described and claimed, it bein understood that changes can be made within the scope of what is claimed without departing from the spirit of the invention.

The invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein Figurel is a vertical section of the apparatus, showing the cigar mold open and the two separate charges of filler tobacco delivered thereinto.

Fi 2 is a corresponding sectional view,

showing the mold closed and receiving the hinder or wrapper, with the: charging device moved out of the way.

Fig. 3 is a section on the line 33 of Fig. 2. Fig. 4 is a plan view of the cigar mold in open position.

Fig. 5 is a perspective view of one of the filler measuring and delivering members.

Fig. 6 is a perspective view of the cutting threat for the filler tobacco.

Fig. 7 is a sectional view illustrating a modification.

Fig. 8 is a cross section of another modification in the mold structure. 1

Fig. 9 is a plan view, on a reduced scale, of the mold shown in Fig. 8.

The cigar mold 11 comprises the side members or sections 12 and 13 mounted on a base or bottom late 14 to move to and from one another. s shown, the side member 12 is integral with the base 14 and the member 13 is slidable on said base. The members 12 and 13 have the complementing recesses 15 in their adjacent sides, and each recess is of the shape of a cigar cut lengthwise in half, so that when said members of the mold are disposed together, the recesses form a cavity having the shape of the cigar. The recesses 15 are open at one end, and are preferably closed at the opposite end which forms the tip of the cigar, and when the mold members 12 and 13 are moved together, as seen in Fig. 2, the upper edges of said members are spaced apart slightly to provide a slot into which the hind er and wrapper may be. inserted into the mold. i

In order to rotate the filler tobacco within the mold, a rotator 16, in the form of a spear or pointed blade, is adapted to be projected into and retracted from the mold through erably of zig-zag cross section, as shown, to

facilitate the rotation of the tobacco in the mold with the blade. The blade 16 is slidable through a rotary bushing or member -17 mounted in a bearing 18 at the open end of.

the mold, whereby the blade may be conveniently rotated, and said blade may he slid through the bushing 17 into and out of the mold. The mold 11 may be mounted and operated in any suitable manner, and the mold may be opened and closed manually or mechanically. The blade 16 may he slid into and out of the mold and the bushing 17 rotated either manually or mechanically. It is understood that if the apparatus is embodied in a semior wholly automatic machine, suitable mechanism is provided for operating the various parts. It is obvious, however, that the, improvements may be used in a manually operable machine wherein the various operations may be performed by hand. I

The feeder for supplying the filler tobacco to the mold comprises twin magazines having the opposite side plates 19 and the inter mediate partition 23 forming the channels 20 through which the filler tobacco is fed. Said feeder. as shown, extends downwardly, and a feeder head 21 is carried by the lower end of the feeder, being pivoted or hinged, as at 22 and 24, respectively, to the lower ends of the plates and partition, respectlvely. Rotary charge measuring and delivering members of cylindrical form are mounted in the head 21, and have pockets 26 therein for receiving and measuring the charges of filler tobacco. The head 21 has upper openings 27 registering with the channels or passages 20, and has lower openings 28 for the discharge of the filler tobacco from the members 25 into the opened mold, as seen in Fig. 1. The members 25 are rotated or oscillated to bring the pockets 26 alternately into registration with the openings 27 and 28. As shown, the

members 25 have pinions 33 at one end, beyond one end of the head 21, and meshing with a reciprocatory rack 34 carried by said end of the head, whereby said rack 34 may be reciprocated by hand or suitable mechanism to oscillate said-members 25.

Ejector plates 29 are mounted in the pockets 26, and are normally moved to the mouths of the pockets by coiled springs 30 confined between said plates 29 and recesses in said members 25.

As shown in Figs. 1 and 2, the members 25 rotate clock-wise to move the pockets 26 from the openings 27 to the discharge openin gs 28, and rotate counter clock-wise to move said pockets from the openings 28 to the openings 27.

- The head 21 and members 25 have shearing edges for cutting off the filler tobacco when said members are rotated from the position shown in Fig. 2 to the position shown in Fig. 1. Thus, the rear edges of the members 25 along the mouths of the recesses 26 are sharpened, as at 31, and the forward edgesof the openings 27 adjacent to the members 25 are sharpened, as at 32, in order to provide a shearing action between the edges 31 and 32 and provide aclean out between the tobacco in the pockets 26 and that in the openings 27, when the members 25 are turned from receiving to discharging position.

The filler tobacco magazine is suspended for swinging movement from a fixed supporting plate 35, which may be part of the frame of the machine, and the upper ends of the side plates 19 of the magazine are hinged, as at 36, to said plate 35.

A tobacco chopping or cutting throat 37 is mounted on the supporting plate 35 at the upper end of the magazine, and has a partition 38 above the partition 23 and to which said partition 23 is hinged, as at 39, whereb the partition 23 and plates 19 may swing wit a parallelogram motion. This enables the magazine and head 21 thereof to be swung to and from the mold, and the opposite sides of the throat 37 and upper ends of the plates 19 have contacting curved surfaces 40, and there are corresponding curved portions between the other hinged parts, to provide smooth passages from the throat 37 through the magazine. The throat 37, with the partition 38 thereof, has elongated openings corresponding in shape to the recesses 15 of the mold members, but in reversed positions with reference to said recesses 15. The channels or passages and recesses 26 are of the same shape as the opening of the throat 37 so that the tobacco fed through the magazine moves in two columns of semi-cigar shaped cross section. When the members 25 are rotated to bring the pockets 26 into registration with the mold, as seen in Fig. 1, the contour of the recesses 26 will correspond with the mold recesses 15, and the charges of filler tobacco which are delivered into the mold will therefore correspond in shape to said recesses 15, inasmuch as the members 25 are invert-ed from the position shown in Figs. 2 and 3.

A spout 41 of a tobacco hopper or other suitable tobacco supplying means is mounted slidably on the throat 37 and is yieldingly supported by springs 42 bearing on the supporting plate 35. A plunger 43 is slidable vertically in the spout 41 above the throat 37 and is reciprocated to and from the throat so as to press the tobacco down into the throat. The tobacco is fed in any suitable manner or by any suitable means in the spout 41 under the plunger 43 and over the throat 37, and the upper edges of said throat are sharpened so as to cut the tobacco into the shape of the openings of said throat. The spout 41 being yieldably mounted may be depressed with the plunger 43, if required, without bruising the tobacco between the plunger 43 and bottom portion of the spout which is slidable on the throat. The tobacco is thus chopped or cut into proper shape by the throat 37 to pass downwardly into the magazine.

In operation, the filler tobacco is fed over the throat 37 and the plunger 43 is operated at the proper speed so that the tobacco is forced into the throat and through the magazine at a speed according to the discharge of the filler tobacco from the magazine, the filler tobacco being kept under suitable pressure in the magazine. Thus, when the members 25 are turned to bring the pockets 26 into registration with the openings 27, the filler tobacco in the magazine will be forced down into the pockets 26, as seen in Fig. 2, thereby depressing the ejector plates 29. Then, when the mold 11 is opened, as seen in Fig. 1, the rotator blade is inserted and positioned in a substantial vertical plane intermediate the side members 12 and 13. The magazine is then swung to bring the head 21 over the mouth of the mold, as seen in Fig. l, and then by turning the members 25 to bring the pockets 26 into registrationwith the discharge openings 28, the charges of filler tobacco in the pockets 26 are delivered into the mold by the movement of the ejector plates 29 downwardly under the force of the springs 30. The magazine is then swung to one side out of the way of the mold, as seen in Fig. 2, and the members rotated to receive the next charges of filler tobacco. The mold is then closed as seen in Fig. 2, thereby confining the two charges of filler tobacco between the blade 16 and side members 12, 13. The

blade 16 is then rotated (counter clockwise as seen in Fig. 2) so as to rotate the filler tobacco in the mold and cause said filler tobacco to conform to the shape of the cavity of the mold: Then, by inserting the usual binder into the slot between the members 12 and 13, as seen in Fig. 2, the binder will be wrapped around the filler tobacco, and, in the same manner, a wrapper may be applied around the binder. The manner of introducing and applying the binder and Wrapper is disclosed in application Serial No. 743,625 hereinbefore referred to. The mold is then opened, and the completed cigar may be withdrawn with the blade 16.

It will be noted that the filler tobacco is in-' troduced into the mold" with the blade 16 within the mold, and a charge of filler tobacco is introduced at each side of the blade, as seen in Fig. 1, thereby avoiding the necessity for forcing the blade into the filler tobacco, and facilitating the operation. When the mold is closed, after receiving the filler tobacco, said filler tobacco is compressed in the mold with the blade within thefiller tobacco, as seen in Fig. 2, so that said tobacco will be rotated with the blade. After the cigar has been completed and the blade withdrawn therefrom, this will leave a channel in the cigar'which will facilitate the draft therethrough when smoking the cigar.

Fig. 7 illustrates a cigar mold having antifriction means therein, in order to reduce the friction when the tobacco is rotated within the mold. For this purpose, endless belts of fabric, rubber or other suitable flexible material pass through slots 51 provided in the side members or sections 12a and 13a and move along the walls of the recesses 15a. The member 13a is movable on the base or bottom plate 1% which has the member 12a, to enable the mold to be opened, and the rotater or blade 16a is movable in the mold to rotate the tobacco therein. The belts 50 pass around rollers 52 at the outer sides of the mold members 12a and 13a, which are mounted for sliding movement in slotted guides 53 carried by said members, and the rollers 52 are yieldingly moved away from the members 12a and 136; by suitable springs 54, to keep the belts 5O taut. Thus, when the mold is empty, the rollers 52 being moved by the springs 54 will straighten out the belts within the mold, as seen in dotted lines in Fig. 7, and when the mold is filled and the members 12a and 13a moved together, as seen in Fig. 7, the belts will be moved away from one another against the surfaces of the recesses 15a, as seen in full lines. The belts being free to move will enable them to move with the tobacco as it is rotated in the mold, thereby reducing friction, 'and providing movable mold walls that are free to move with the tobacco. If desired, the belts 50 may be power driven so as to assist in rotating the tobacco in the mold, in which event the rotator or blade 16a may be of narrow width, which is desirable in making a perfeeto cigar.

Fig. 7 also illustrates the use of a feed belt 55 for feeding the binders and wrappers into the mold, said belt 55 passing around rollers 56, and a slotted guide 57 being preferably provided at the discharge end of the belt 55 for directing the binders and wrappers into the mold. The belt 55 may be of any-suitable length between the rollers 56 in order that a supply of binders and wrappers may be placed on the shelf by the operator and an assistant. The binders and wrappers are placed alternately upon the belt in order that the binder may first be delivered into the mold, followed by a wrapper. The belt 55 may have diagonal or other guide lines thereon to facilitate properly placing the binders and wrappers on' the belt so that they will properly enter the mold, and the belt 55 may also be power driven so as to move the binders and Wrappers into the mold at a speed conforming to the speed of movement of the rotating tobacco in the mold, thus avoiding the tearing or wrinkling of the binders and wrappers as they move into the mold.

Figs. 8 and 9 illustrate a mold having the bottom section 14]) and the side sections or members 12?; hingedly connected with said bottom section so as to swing apart for opening the mold to receive the filler tobacco. In order to reduce friction within the mold, rollers 60 are provided at the hinge joints between the sections, and other rollers 61 are mounted in the sections 12?) adjacent to the entrance slot 62 between them through which the binder and vwrapper are introduced. Other rollers 63 are mounted in the sections 125 intermediate the rollers 60 and 61. Said rollers project slightly through slots 64 in the inner surfaces of the mold sections, to contact with the tobacco and thus reduce friction when the tobacco is rotated within the mold. The rollers 60 and 61 have the flared terminal portions 65 and the rollers 63 have the flared terminal portions 66 conforming to the tapered tip end of the cigar, the portions 66. extending beyond the portions 65 so as to project close to the tip of the cigar. The rollers may be power driven in order to assist in rotating the tobacco in the mold, and if the mold is of a shape to form a perfecto cigar, the rollers may also have flared portions, similar to the portions 65, at the contracted open end of the mold. The rollers may have their surfaces fluted or otherwise roughened, especially if the rollers are power driven, so as to turn the to: bacco.

Havingtthus described the invention, what is claimedas new is 1. In an apparatus for making cigars, a cigar mold, a filler tobacco magazine, tiller tobacco measuring means arranged to receive 1 filler tobacco from the magazine and deliver same into the mold, yieldable means carried by'said means adapted to yieldwhen tobacco is forced under pressure into said measuring means and adapted to discharge the tobacco from' said measuring means into the mold,

i said mold, a filler tobacco magazine having twin filler tobacco channels, and measuring means between the magazine and mold operable to-receive tobacco from said channels and deliver the tobacco into the mold at opposite sides of said member.

4. In a cigar making apparatus, a cigar mold, a tobacco rotating member operatively mounted in said mold, a filler tobacco magazine havin twin channels for the filler tobacco, an tobacco measuring members between said magazine and mold adapted to register alternately with said channels and mold.

5. In a ci ar making apparatus, a cigar mold adapted to be opened and closed, a filler tobacco rotating member'rotatable in said mold, a filler tobacco magazine having two channels-for the filler tobacco and having a head to register with the mold when opened,

and rotatable members in said head having measuring pockets adapted to register alternately with said channels and the opened mold in cooperation with said tobacco rotating member.

6. In a cigar making apparatus, a cigar mold adapted to be opened and closed, a tobacco rotating member rotatable in said mold, a filler tobacco magazine having chanmale for the filler tobacco and having a head to register with the mold when opened, rotatable members in said head having pockets adapted to register alternately with said channels and the opened mold, and ejector means in said pockets to force the filler tobacco therefrom into the mold.

7. In a cigar making apparatus, a cigar mold adapted to be opened and closed, and a filler tobacco magazine mounted to move to and from the mold and having measuring means arranged to register with the mouth of the opened mold for discharging a predetermined amount of filler tobacco into the mold.

8. In a cigar making apparatus, a tobacco magazine, a measuring member having a pocket movable alternately into registration with the magazine and to discharging position, and yieldable ejector means in said pocket, adapted when released to move to the mouth of the pocket. I

9. In a cigar making apparatus, a tobacco magazine, a rotatable member having a pocket adapted to register with the magazine for receiving a predetermined amount of tobacco therefrom and from which the tobacco is discharged when said member is turned to another position, and a spring actuated ejector means in said pocket adapted to yield when tobacco is forced under pressure into said pocket and to eject the tobacco from said pocket when the pocket is moved to discharging position.

10. In a cigar making apparatus, a tobacco magazine, a tobacco measuring. and discharging member having a pocket movable into registration with the magazine to receive a predetermined amount of tobacco therefrom and from which the tobacco is discharged in another position of said member, said member having a cutting edge to shear off the tobacco when said pocket is moved out of registration from the magazine, and spring actuated ejector means in said pocket adapted to yield when tobacco is forced under pressure into said pocket and to eject the tobacco from said pocket when the pocket is moved to discharging position.

11. In a cigar making apparatus, a tobacco magazine having a head with a discharge opening, a rotatable tobacco measuring and discharging member in said head having a pocket to register alternately with said magazine and opening, said member and head having cooperable shearing edges for shearing off the tobacco when said member is turned to move the pocket out of registration from the magazine, and spring actuated ejector means in said pocket adapted to yield when tobacco is forced under pressure into saidpocket and to eject the tobacco from said pocket when the pocket is moved to discharging position.

12. In a cigar making apparatus, a filler tobacco magazine having a chopping throat at its entrance end, means having a portion movable on said throat for feeding tobacco across said throat, and means for forcing the tobacco into said throat.

5 13. In a cigar making machine, a filler tobacco magazine having a tobacco chopping throat at its entrance end, a tobacco spout movable yieldingly on said throat, and means working in said spout for forcing the tobacco into said throat.

14. In acigar making apparatus, a filler tobacco magazine having two channels, a throat at the entrance end of said magazine having a partition therein defining two open- 'ings registering with said channels, and means for forcing tobacco into said throat, the edges of said throat and partition thereof being sharp to cut the tobacco.

15. In a cigar making apparatus, a filler tObaCC0 magazine having two channels, and a throat at the entrance end of said magazine having a partition therein defining two 0 enings registering with said channels, the e gels of said throat and partition being sharp to cut the tobacco.

16. In a cigar making ap aratus, a tobacco chopping throat, a magazine hinged] connected with and communicating throu said throat, and discharge means carried y said magazine.

In testimony whereof I hereunto aifix my signature.

WILLIAM T. FITZ GERALD. 

